Loyola University Chicago

Human Resources

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Update on Open Enrollment for 2021: October 21, 2020

October 21, 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Human Resources is pleased to share information regarding Benefits Open Enrollment for 2021. Beginning November 2 and running through November 13, Open Enrollment is your annual opportunity to review and make changes to your benefit choices based on your personal and family needs for the upcoming year. We encourage you to take the time to thoroughly review the information over the next few weeks so that you are prepared to make informed decisions when selecting your 2021 benefits. 

Loyola University Chicago will continue to offer competitive programs and services to help faculty and staff members achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes mental health support and resources. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle not only benefits your well-being, but also collectively improves the health of the University community and keeps health care costs leveled. 

What's new for 2021? Loyola’s benefits offerings are not changing, and premium rates for medical, dental, and vision insurance are not increasing for 2021.

For the second year in a row, monthly premium rates for medical insurance through Aetna will not increase. Because of health care inflation costs and increased claims year after year, most employers in the U.S., including Loyola, experience an increase of total health care costs at a rate of approximately 5 to 6 percent per year. However, Loyola’s partnership with Aetna as a health insurance provider has provided another opportunity to prevent increases in health insurance premiums for all employees in 2021.


All three medical plan options will continue to be available for benefit-eligible faculty and staff. The PPO 3 HSA plan will continue to be accompanied by a Health Savings Account (HSA), which allows faculty and staff to contribute money on a pretax basis to use for medical, dental, and vision care expenses incurred in the calendar year and/or save or invest these funds for future eligible medical expenses. Loyola feels strongly about the competitiveness of this PPO 3 HSA option. Therefore, again in 2021, incentive money of $600 for employee-only coverage or $1,200 for employee plus a spouse/LDA and/or child(ren) will be contributed to new and existing HSA accounts in January 2021. 

Mental Health Support and Resources: Mental health is important. If you or someone that you are caring for are in need of mental health and wellness support, please utilize the Employee Assistance Program. In addition, the Aetna medical plan covers you and your family members for both inpatient and outpatient mental health services, including substance use treatment and other conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, etc. Speak to an Aetna representative at 855-586-6958 or find an Aetna provider online. 

Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Rollover: You may roll over up to $550 of your remaining 2020 Health Care FSA (or Limited FSA) dollars. Any remaining balance over $550 will be forfeited.


Note: This change does not apply to the Dependent Care FSA; you must still use all remaining 2020 FSA dollars before December 31, though you have until March 31, 2021 to submit receipts for reimbursement. This does also not apply to the Health Savings Account (HSA), in which the entire balance is yours to use in future years, even if you leave Loyola or change jobs. 

Biometric Screenings and Flu Shots: For the health and safety of our faculty and staff members during the COVID-19 pandemic, flu shots and biometric screenings will NOT be offered on any of Loyola’s campuses this year. Alternate ways are available to obtain your flu shot with your Aetna medical insurance. Learn more here. With regards to the biometric screenings, we have decided to pause this annual wellness screening requirement for 2021. This means if you received the wellness rate for your medical premiums in 2020, you will continue to receive the wellness rate in 2021. 

Please read this Benefits Highlights Brochure (which may take a moment to load) along with upcoming benefits-related communication for additional details about open enrollment. We also encourage you to consider attending an informative information session that will provide an overview of our benefits offerings and open enrollment. The one-hour webinar provides faculty and staff members with an opportunity to ask benefits-related questions following the presentation. Register using the below links to attend one of the following information sessions: 

Lastly, please take time to review the Open Enrollment Checklist provided in this Benefits Highlights Brochure. All Open Enrollment changes need to be completed in the Employee Self-Service portal by November 13 in order to be effective January 1, 2021. Even if you decide not to make any changes to your benefits, you should complete the online Open Enrollment process to avoid the Tobacco Premium and Spousal/LDA Premium, if applicable. For your reference, the Employee Self-Service portal should be used within a Google Chrome or Safari browser.

As we move forward, our goal is to continue fostering a healthy and appealing environment for faculty and staff. We hope that the efforts of our annual benefit program reviews, coupled with competitive market pricing and transparent communication, will increase your awareness of the diverse benefits offered, as well as the University’s commitment of resources to provide these comprehensive benefits for you and your family.


Please feel free to contact Human Resources at benefits@LUC.edu should you have additional questions regarding benefit offerings. Thank you for your thoughtful review of this information, and please watch for additional communications.


Sincerely,

Winifred L. Williams, PhD
Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer